Mori Eskandani is a key figures in the poker industry. Known for revolutionizing poker entertainment, he wears multiple hats. He is a veteran poker player, a member of poker hall of famer since 2018, PokerGO President and the visionary behind POKER PROductions, who changed the way poker is filmed and broadcasted by producing blockbuster programs like Poker Superstars ,Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker, National Heads-Up Poker Championship, World Series of Poker, Super High Roller Bowl and many other high-profile poker shows.
Mori Eskandani – Early Years & Education
Mori Eskandani was born on January 29, 1956 in Southern Azerbaijan. He moved to the capital of Iran when he was just 6 year-old. At the age of 18, he then moved to Portland, Oregon in 1974 and graduated from Portland State University in 1980 with a degree in Business Administration.
Mori Eskandani‘s Poker Journey & Key Milestones
Poker was purely accidental for Mori Eskandani. He started playing the game in card rooms of Portland and quickly fell in love with the game. Although he is regarded as one of the big legends of Stud Poker, his journey started with Texas Holdem Poker. He started playing the game in 1983 before moving to Las Vegas in 1985 when he was 30 year-old. In Las Vegas, he competed in both cash games and tournaments and amassed substantial earnings.
From Poker Tables to Production Studios
A sharp and young mind, Mori Eskandani gradually moved to poker tables to poker production and went on to play a key role to change the way we perceive poker today. He played a key role in developing the hole card cam in 1995. He also helped in the launch of the Bellagio Poker Room and served as the Executive Poker Host and Advisor from 1997-98. In 2004, he co-created Poker Superstars in collaboration with Henry Orenstein and founded PokerPROductions in 2005 to become a poker producer. As a poker TV producer, he has produced many events, including World Series of Poker on ESPN, Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker, National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Face the Ace and several other high-profile poker shows.
Mori Eskandani quickly became a trademark in the poker world. He achieved massive success as a poker player and producer. In 2017, his company ‘POKER PROductions’ was acquired by Poker Central. Known as “Uncle Mori”, Eskandani was also one of the driving forces behind the launch of the PokerGO Studio in 2017.
2018 marked an epic milestone in his career as he was inducted into Poker Hall of Fame for his immense contributions to poker as a player and producer.
Mori Eskandani‘s Poker Career Highlights
As mentioned before, prior to moving into poker content production, Mori Eskandani is a successful professional high stakes poker player. Known for his high-stakes cash games, he has amassed $1,079,745 in live tournament earnings. He got his first cash in 1985 for a third-place finish in a $ 2,500 Limit Seven Card Stud event for $ 16,000. Since then, there has been no looking back as he has won over nine live tournaments and posted deep runs across several prestigious events like WSOP, WPT and PGT events.
His career-best score came only this year in March for his victory in the PGT Mixed Games Event #3: $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. where he defeated a field of 63 entries and overcame Jeremy Ausmus in the heads-up play, claiming his first-ever PGT title and a career-high score of $201,600.
Eskandani has also cashed over 25 WSOP events and his total cashes from the world’s most prestigious live poker series amount to $273,049 of January 2025. Here is a quick look at his top 5 cashes:
| Event | Rank | Prize |
| 2024 PGT Mixed Games #3 – $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. | 1st | $201,600 |
| 2022 -Bellagio High Roller #4 – $10,000 8-Game – World Poker Tour – WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic | 2nd | $53,000 |
| 2019 -$ 10,000 + 500 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller at Aria High Roller 01, Las Vegas | 1st | $ 128,000 |
| 2018 -$ 10,000 + 500 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller at Aria Short Deck 10K-01, Las Vegas | 1st | $ 110,400 |
| 2003 -$ 3,000 + 75 Mariani/Buss Charity Open – Half Hold’em & Half Seven Card Stud at 2003 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles (Bell Gardens) | 1st | $ 68,040 |
As a poker player and poker producer, Mori Eskandani has left an indelible mark, building a remarkable legacy. He has not only excelled at poker but also changed the way we perceive the game today. His journey has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride filled with highs, lows, wins and challenges. However, Mori’s never-say-die attitude and his commitment to the game has constantly motivated him to push the boundaries and set new benchmarks in the world of poker entertainment.
Eskandani’s inspiring journey has not only won him several international accolades but also has served as an inspiration for aspiring poker players and producers. His journey showcases that with passion, perseverance, anything is possible in the world of poker. His legacy has inspired thousands of people in poker and will continue to inspire generations to come. We thank Mori for his immense contributions to the world of poker.
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